usedtosail

I feel a need to update this log, just to keep connected with you all. As previously shown, the Constitution is all crated up and the crate sits in the garage, waiting to be moved when we move the furniture. The workshop has been packed up and all of the tools and supplies moved to a storage unit in NH. All that is left are the workbenches, which will also be moved with the furniture. I am still making rope coils and lengths of rope for the braces and davits, but I am about to run out things to do soon. We still have to pack up the rest of the house but not until we have a final moving date. We had open houses this weekend and the realtor says to expect a few offers tomorrow, so we may know something soon. I am keeping all fingers and toes crossed. Four weeks of work left before I retire, so things are winding down there too. Have a great Memorial Day weekend to all of you who celebrate it. I will be getting the full size boat ready for the lake. In the mean time, i will be living vicariously through all your build logs until I can get back to modeling.

Those winches and davits look great. Good job!

Nice job on the planking and rudder. I have this kit in my stash for the future so will be following along. My daughter is not married yet, so I hope that trend doesn't continue, unless she happens to get married before I start.

Popeye, you better put a drop cloth down over that nice new carpet. Keep the admiral happy and all that...

Doug, with the workbench I have I usually end up with lengths of around 4 feet, which starts with strands of about 4 1/2 feet. I have an extension that I can clamp to the workbench to make 5 foot lengths, but I have rarely needed that length. There is a bit of waste with the 4 foot lengths, but I have used the excess for rope coils or block strops, so very little is thrown away.

Those hammock stanchions and nets look great. Tedious, yes, but they add so much.

Thanks Popeye but I don't think that will be happening. I do plan to keep the crate, which I can disassemble into panels, in case I need to move another model in the future. The crate won't be moved for a few weeks yet, but we are having an open house next weekend and I didn't want to leave the model out in the open during it. I am in the process of packing up all the sharp tools for similar reasons. I am looking forward to joining you in the Granite State.

Welcome back Pete. I can't wait to see your new projects.

Thanks Dan. That sounds like it would work very well.

It is a pressure fit and the keel shape keeps it from rotating. I will be careful not to tilt the crate when carrying it. I would have liked to hold the hull down more firmly, but didn't want to damage it with straps or attachments through the bottom.

I built a crate for the Constitution model so I could move it and store it until the new workshop is ready. I used 1x4s and 3/8" OBS sheets. I built it in six panels that are screwed together with long sheet rock screws, so that I can take it totally apart later and store it for future uses. I first attached the two side and back to the bottom. I then screwed the working cradle down to the bottom after carefully placing it so the model would be centered. I also put some extra screws to make sure it would not be able to turn on the lazy susan. I then carefully placed the model into the cradle. It fit nicely with plenty of room around it. I then screwed the front and the top on and it is now ready to move. We are moving to our condo on Newfound Lake in New Hampshire. Our house in North Reading, MA goes on the market next week. My last day of full time employment will be June 15, and we expect to be all moved by the end of June. Part of the condo we rent out on a weekly basis in the summer, and we already had it rented for this summer, so I won't be setting up my new workshop until September, after our last rental. We won't be renting anymore after this summer, so I have a really nice room overlooking the lake to set up the workshop. I was sure I was going to use a back bedroom, but my great wife suggested I use the room with a view. I am taking the summer off, then will be able to work part time for the company I am semi-retiring from, so not full time retirement yet. There won't be much activity on this log for a while, although I am still making rope coils and rope for the braces, lower sheets and tacks, and the davit rigging. I have started packing up my current workshop but will save the rope walk and rope coil jig until last.

Thanks Ken. I actually do enjoy the rigging a lot, but it does get challenging threading new lines through previous ones. I love the way yours came out and I am trying to emulate your precision as best I can.

Thanks Popeye. She is tall - the crate I am making for her is 44" high by 60" wide. Once she is in the build will be on hold until later in the Fall, although I am still making rope coils and rope for the braces and lower sheets and tacks. I'll have pictures of the crate for those who are interested.

Were you cutting birthday cake at the time? Happy belated shared birthday.

Looks like an interesting little project. Of course you will put your spin on it, which is always fascinating. I'm glad you got the car past inspection.

If you want to paint the metal eyebolts, put some primer on them first, which will keep the paint from flaking off. I use a metal primer called Bin that works well. I also soak the parts in white vinegar before priming or blackening them, which gets any oils off of them.

Thanks everyone. KMart - You are doing a great job and I know your Connie will come out great. I have found that taking my time and going back to fix things that I don't like has made a big difference in how it has turned out. Clay - thanks for your offer to share ideas on the case. I would love to see pictures of yours. I usually make a base with a full cover that I slip over the top, but this model is too big for that. I first thought about a hinged front, but even that I think will be too big, so now I am thinking of a removable front and top, with the other three sides screwed to the base. I have just started working up plans for that design, but I am open to other ideas too. I won't be starting the case until late September or so, after our planned move this summer. Dave - no worries. I know you are busy on yours and there is still a chance you will overtake me. I would be open to your suggestions on the case too. I now have all the yards attached and rigged, and I think lined up as best as they are going to get. I am very happy with how they came out. I have gone back and fixed a few of the rigged lines where they were not running true, and I think I have found all of those. Here the top gallant yards are fully rigged. And here are some close ups of the fore top gallant and topsail yards, with the buntlines and leech lines rigged. And here are the royal yards added, first during rigging then finished up. I have tied off all the lines to belaying pins and fixed the knots, but have not cut off the excess line yet, in case I need to do some final adjustments. I still have to make and add rope coils to most of the pins, which is going to take some time. As I mentioned before, getting to some of the pin rails is getting very difficult, but I ordered some larger tweezers from Amazon that help a lot. Here is what I bought. The four large ones to the left are not as useful as I thought they would be, as the tips are pretty blunt. I may try grinding the tips down to a point. The other three have been very useful, especially the one on the right. This is about 8 inches long and with it I can reach across the deck to any pin rail on the other side. It was very useful for tying the lines to the pins, and should be just as useful for setting the rope coils. I plan to next make and place rope coils on the pins rakes that are full, then add the brace lines to all the yards, the sheets and tacks for the lower fore and main yards, and the rest of the rope coils. After that, the davits and anchors will be added. I don't know if I will get to all that before we move, but that will be OK as I will pick this up again in the Fall.

She's a beauty Popeye! Very nice work.

Love those rails, Frank. They look great!

Jesse, those ratlines look so real. Seizing the ends to the shrouds to me is the real key here. I always have trouble with some of the ends coming undone if I just use a clove or a luggage hitch on them. Next time, I am going to use your technique for sure. Thank you. BTW, I used to think that tying the clove hitches was a lot of work, but I think if I counted the number of seizings I have had to do on the Constitution rigging, it would be a lot more than the number of clove hitches in the ratlines.

That net looks good to me, Popeye.

Mark, from experience, you will find those blocks that flew away when you are looking for something else on the floor. Dealing with those small blocks is challenging. I used 3/32" blocks for the Connie guns and am using them now in the upper running rigging. I was loosing a lot at first (which I think I have found most of since then), but was able to get a pretty good process down to stropping them. I just takes lots of practice.

Yep, that's how I adjusted the heights on my gun deck guns. I used a straight edge razor blade to make the cut in one push.

Thanks Jon. I do have a place in our new home to display her. Making a case for her is going to be quite a challenge, though. I have some ideas though. Just a quick note that the topGallant blocks for the lifts did stay in place when I installed the lifts through them and tightened them up, so all of the rigging for those yards is done, except for the buntlines, which I am working on now.

Thanks guys. Other pictures I found had some of the plastic models I built as a kid - mostly funny cars, but there was also the Visible Body, if you guys remember that, and a V8 engine model kit. It did bring back memories. Work has continued, mostly on rigging the topGallant yards. First a picture with just the lower and topsail yards, adjusted to my liking. Of course, with all the subsequent work they have come out of alignment somewhat, so I will wait until all the yards are installed before tweaking the lines to get them to all line up, if that will be possible. He the topGallant yards are all on but are hanging only by the halyards. The lifts have been seized to the yard arms, but are justing hanging for now. The sheets are also installed, but these are on the topsail yards. The reason the lifts are not rigged yet is because I have been having trouble tying the double blocks they go through to the thin topGallant shrouds. They keep wanting to slide down the shrouds. I think they are good now, as I used a thicker line to tie them with which I think gives the glue more surface area to adhere to. We will see when I start threading the lift lines through them if they stay in place. I am not sure what I will do if they keep slipping. It is also getting very crowded on deck, especially aft of the main mast. It is getting hard to get my hands in there to attach lines to the belaying pins along the deck in this area. I just ordered some longer tweezers today so we will see if that helps get in there. I have some other long rigging tools that I made with dowel and large needles that help. I have already had to make some repairs to installed lines, mostly due to blocks coming out of their stroppings because of pressure I have put on the lines. It is a challenge which I am ready to accept, though. This puppy will be completed this year, despite the upcoming move. I have designed a crate that I will build to hold the model in whatever state it is by June. Now I just have to build it. Of course, I'll include that in the build log.